Series Preview: Yankees vs. Blue Jays

Yankees vs. Blue Jays
Yankee Stadium
(2 games)

After taking the makeup game against the Angels the Yankees remain in the Bronx for a short two-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees' leads, both in the division (7.5) and for best record (6) remain strong, and the Yankees magic number to clinch the division is down to 12.

Toronto is just 6-9 this month, and come into this series with a 65-79 record, in fourth place, and 27.5 games behind the Yankees.

Roy Halladay, who nearly threw a no-hitter the last time he faced the Yankees, will start the opener tonight against Sergio Mitre. And Chad Gaudin will face Brian Tallet in game two.

Meanwhile, the Yankees catch a bit of a break as the Red Sox and Angels face off in a three game series in Boston, so if the Yanks can take these two games they will gain on someone. Speaking of Boston, they're beginning to put some distance between them and the Rangers in the wild card chase, so it looks like this series for Boston will be a ALDS preview.

Back to our series; with Halladay going tonight against Mitre, I suspect the Jays will have an easy one, so a split in this series wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, just don't drop them both. Then again, Halladay did get knocked around for five runs on nine hits in his only other start in the Bronx this year, so you never know.

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: My9, WCBS
RHP Sergio Mitre (3-2, 7.02) vs. RHP Roy Halladay (14-9, 3.03)

Game 2: Tomorrow @ 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP Chad Gaudin (5-10, 4.81) vs. LHP Brian Tallet (7-9, 5.26)

Players to Watch

YANKEES: Jorge Posada - The Yankees catcher has had another solid year, hitting .280/.357/.524 with 21 HR and 76 RBI.

Since August 21st, Jorge is hitting .321/.433/.696 with 6 HR and 21 RBI.

This year he's owned Blue Jays pitching. In 10 games he's hitting .364/.391/.636 with 3 HR and 13 RBI. His career numbers against Toronto are also impressive; in 158 games he's hitting .310/.397/.542 with 30 HR and 97 RBI.

Posada vs. Halladay: .275/.403/.431 (14-for-51), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 doubles, 11 K
Posada vs. Tallett: 1-for-8, double, 2 BB, 2 K

BLUE JAYS: Randy Ruiz - It seems that the only way the Yankees can keep the Bronx native from hitting a bomb against him is by hitting him in the face with a pitch. Either way, the guy has made an impact in the five games he's played against the Yankees this year, hitting
.278/.350/.778 with 3 homers and 5 RBI. For the season he's hitting .276/.360/.529 with 7 HR and 14 RBI in 24 games.

Ruiz vs. Mitre: 1-for-3, RBI
Ruiz vs. Pettitte: 1-for-3, HR, RBI

Injury Report

YANKEES:
- David Robertson, RP: Will need 10-14 days rest because his shoulder has been tightening up. There is no structural damage and he should be back in time for the playoffs.
- Chien-Ming Wang, SP: 15-day DL is done for the year after arthriscopic surgery on his shoulder. He will likely be out for 12 months.
- Xavier Nady, RF: Done for year, season-ending Tommy John surgery. 10-12 months to recover.

BLUE JAYS
- Joe Inglett, 2B: Day-to-day with a ribcage strain.
- Michael Barrett, C: 15-Day DL with a muscle tear in right shoulder.
- Jesse Litsch, SP: Apr 14 15-Day DL with a right forearm strain.
- Shaun Marcum,SP/RP: 15-Day DL as he recovers from right elbow surgery.
- Dustin McGowan, SP: 15-Day DL as he recovers from right shoulder surgery.
- Robert Ray, SP: 15-Day DL with right shoulder soreness.